Musical instruments



W. E- SMITH MUS ICAL INSTRUMENTS Aug. 27, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 14, 1965 IQNVENTOR. W476? 6 W/i BY 6' Arrae/w s Aug. 27, 1968 SMITH 3,398,623

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Aug. 27, 1968 w. E. SWH 3,398,623

MUS ICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Sept. 14, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 O o o INVENTOR. 4446756 6 5/14/77/ United States Patent 3,398,623 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Walter E. Smith, Caldwell, Idaho Walt Smith Cattle (10., Donnelly, Idaho 83615) Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 459,551,

May 28, 1965. This application Sept. 14, 1965, Ser.

15 Claims. (Cl. 84-267) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A guitar has a body and a neck, the neck comprising part of an integral stem which carries the string anchor, inclined bridge and inclined nut over which the strings are tensioned in a common plane.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 459,551, filed May 28, 1965, for Musical Instruments.

This invention relates to musical instruments of the lute type in which strings are tensioned over a bridge and a nut. The invention will be described in connection with guitars of the Spanish type and Hawaiian type, but it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation.

So-called Spanish type guitars are commonly played by a musician while in standing position. The musician plucks or strums the strings with his right hand while forming chords by pressing the fingers of his left hand against the strings. This type of instrument has great appeal for entertainers because the motions of the hands of the musician are plainly visible to the audience and because the musician may walk about the stage while playing the instrument.

The Hawaiian type guitar on the other hand must be played while the musician is sitting down because the musicians left hand is used to slide a steel bar along the length of the strings while the strings are plucked or strummed by fingers of the right hand. The Hawaiian type guitar cannot be played while the musician is standing because the strings then lie in a substantially vertical plane and it is not possible to operate the slide bar properly when the plane of the strings is vertical.

Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide a Hawaiian type guitar which is played with a bar sliding on the strings and which may be played by a musician in standing position.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for converting an existing Spanish guitar to one of the improved Hawaiian type embodying this invention.

Another object is to provide a stringed musical instrument in which the neck is formed as a part of a stem which carries the string anchor, the bridge, and the nut, and wherein the body or sound-box is attached to this stern but is not subjected to the tension of the strings. A

related object is to provide such a device in which the stem is movable with respect to the body.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by slanting the plane of the strings with respect to the face of the body or sound-box of the guitar so that when the body or sound-box is held in an upright position by a standing musician, the plane of the strings is neither horizontal nor vertical, but is inclined about midway therebetween.

Another aspect of this invention resides in the provision of a stem which includes the neck, tuning keys, nut, bridge and string anchor, so that the body or soundbox is relieved of the string tension.

Another aspect of the invention is concerned with movable connections between the stem and the body.

3,398,623 Patented Aug. 27, 1968 ice Another aspect resides in the provision to vary the electric volume control as a consequence of moving the stem relative to the body. Other and more detailed object and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows a guitar embodying this invention and being played by a musician while in standing position.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the guitar shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation.

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views taken substantially on the lines 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, as shown in FIGURE -3.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the lines 7-7 as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 8 is a diagram showing the tuning system for each of the nine strings.

FIGURE 9 is a front elevation of a modified form of device embodying this invention and showing an attachment for a Spanish type guitar having a hollow soundbox.

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation of the device shown on FIGURE 9.

FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 are transverse sectional views taken substantially on the lines 11-11, 12-12 and 13-13, respectively, as shown on FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 14 is a plan view showing a modification.

FIGURE 15 is a transverse sectional view taken sub stantially on the lines 15-15 as shown on FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the lines 16-16 as shown on FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 17 is a plan view showing another modification.

FIGURE 18 is a plan view showing another modification.

FIGURE 19 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the lines 19-19 as shown on FIGURE 18.

FIGURE 20 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the under side of the device of FIGURE 18.

FIGURE 21 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the lines 21-21 as shown on FIGURE 18.

FIGURE 22 is a plan view showing another modification.

FIGURE 23 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the lines 23-23 as shown in FIGURE 22.

FIGURE 24 is a fragmentary detail showing a portion of the under side of the device of FIGURE 22.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGURES 1-7 thereof, the guitar generally designated 10 is sup ported by a strap 11 passing over the shoulder of the musician, the musician being shown in standing position in FIGURE 1. The guitar 10 has a body 12 provided with an exposed upper face 13 and having a neck 14 extending longitudinally from the body 12. The neck 14 may be formed integrally with the body 12 or as shown in the drawings may comprise a separate part afiixed to the body extension 15 by means of threaded fastenings 16. The neck 14 has an inclined surface 17 on which is mounted the longitudinally extending fret board 18. This fret board 18 extends from the inclined nut 19 on the neck 14 to a position overlying a portion of the body 12, terminating at 20 as viewed in FIGURE 2.

An inclined bridge 22 is mounted on the body 12 and I 3 in FIGURE 1. While the angle of inclination is not critical it should be closer to a 45 angle than to either the hori-' zontal or the vertical.

The extreme end portion 25 of the neck 14 supports a plurality of string-tightening units 26 of conventional design, one for each of the nine strings. The other end of each string is fastened to the anchor device 27 afilxed to the body 12.

Electrical pick-up microphone units 29 and 30 are mounted in an inclined position on the body 12 between the bridge 22 and the fret board 18. These electrical pickup units are of coventional design but unit 29 picks up all strings whereas unit 30 picks up all strings except 9. The units 29 and 30 are electrically connected through a a bank of switches 31 and conventional volume control and tone control knobs 32 and 33 to a conventional jack 34. A cable 35 extends from this jack to the power supply and amplifier, not shown. The switch bank 31 may be selectively operated to connect either one or both of the electrical pick-up units 29 and 30 to the jack 34.

The strap 11 which goes over the shoulder of the standing musician is attached to the fitting 37 at the end of the body 12 in a conventional manner. The other end of the strap 11 is attached to the pin 38 mounted on the front face of the end portion 25 of the neck 14. This mounting of the strap 11 serves to apply a torque to the instrument so that the upper edge of the body 12 is held snugly against the body of the musician.

Although the inclined strings are shown as applied to an electric guitar having a solid body 12, as shown in FIGURES 1-8, it is to be understood that the same inclined bridge and nut and inclined fret board may be employed on a guitar having a body which comprises a hollow sound-box and which does not employ any electrical pick-up units. Also as shown in FIGURES 9-13 a Spanish type guitar as shown in phantom lines may be converted to the inclined string Hawaiian type and played with a slide bar device. Thus a metal fret board 51 lay be mounted by wedge shaped supports 52, 53 and 54 to rest on the exposed face 55 of the hollow sound-box 56 and upon the neck 57 which extends longitudinally from the sound-box. The inclined fret board 51 is maintained in place by means of the side clips 58 on each side of the neck 57. The metal fret board has an inclined nut 60 affixed to one end and an inclined bridge 61 afiixed to the other end. A guard or shield 62 may be placed in position over the strings if desired to form a rest for the right hand of the musician. An electrical pick-up microphone unit 64 may be mounted on the fret board 51 and held in place with a thumb screw 65, as shown in FIG- URE 12. Only six strings are illustrated in this form of the invention since the ordinary Spanish type guitar is equipped with only six strings. However, a greater number may be employed if desired. The pick-up unit 64 may be positioned at any desired location along the inclined fret board 51 and above the exposed face 55 of the sound-box -6, but I prefer to position it directly above the opening 67 conventionally provided in Spanish type guitars. The tensioning mechanism-s for the strings and the body anchor for the strings are the same as initially employed on the guitar before attachment of the inclined fret board 51 and its associated parts.

The tuning of the nine strings in that form of the device shown in FIGURES 1-7 is set forth in the diagram of FIGURE 8. In this diagram it is shown that the first string is tuned to the E above middle C, the second string to the E one octave therebelow, the third string is tuned to A below middle C, the fifth string is tuned to the A one octave therebelow, the sixth string is tuned to middle C, the seventh string is tuned to the same E as the second string, the eighth string is tuned to the G below middle C, and the ninth string is tuned to the B flat below middle C. This tuning schedule for the strings applies before the slide bar device 24 is touched to any of the strings. Accordingly, when strings -8, 7 and 6 are sounded by plucking or strumming, an inverted C major chord is produced. A C seventh chord is sounded by strings 9,

8, 7 and 6. A C major chord plus the sixth of the scale is produced by sounding strings 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4. (This same chord is an inversion of a minor seventh chord.) The minor chord may be sounded by sounding strings 7, 6, 5 and 4. A major chord in the key of A is produced by sounding strings 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1. This unique stringing enables the musician to play chords, sequences and inversions of chords previously not possible with the conventional Hawaiian guitar. It is to be noted that seldom if ever would all of the strings be sounded at the same time. It will be noted that the major chord (C-major) overlaps its relative minor chord (A-minor). All of the strings, both bass and treble, are mounted in the same plane and may be contacted simultaneously by the slide bar 24.

It will be noted that adjacent strings 4 and 5 are tuned one octave apart and it will also be noted in FIGURE 4 that these strings are spaced closer together than any other pair of strings. This enables them to be sounded almost simultaneously. This close spacing also provides a reference for the musician so that the proper strings may be plucked or strummed to produce the desired chord. Strings 5 and 6 are spaced further apart than any other adjacent strings in order to produce a separation of the two groups of strings, group 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 from 6, 7, -8, 9. This separation mnimizes accidental overstroking of the desired group of strings, and also permits the use of a shorter slide bar for contacting the strings. This latter feature is important when teaching beginners, and provides more flexible playing patterns for professional musicians. Strings 1 and 2 are also tuned one octave apart and are closely spaced for sounding almost simultaneously.

When only six strings instead of nine are employed, the first five strings are tuned as shown in FIGURE 8 but the sixth string is tuned to middle C or to the G below middle C, instead of the E below middle C.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIG- URES 14-16, the body 70 has a flat rear face 71 and a substantially parallel front face 72. A longitudinal groove 73 ending in a shoulder 74 is provided in the front face 72. An integral stem 75 has a rib 76 on its lower face which extends into the groove 74 and has martinal faces 77 which rest on the upper face 72 of the body 70. The stem 75 is secured to the body 70 by means of one or more fastenings 78. The stem 75 has an inclined surface 79 extending longitudinally of the stem. An inclined nut 80 is mounted at one end of the surface adjacent the tuning head 81 having the string-tightening units 82. An inclined bridge 83 is mounted on the stem 75 near the other end of the inclined surface 79, and a string anchor device '84 is also fixed on the stem 75. Strings 86 are tensioned over the inclined nut 80 and bridge 83 and each string extends to one of the string-tightening units 82 on the head '81. It will be observed that the tension of the strings 86 is resisted solely by the stem 75 and is not imparted to the body 70. The common plane of the string-contacting parts of the nut 80 and bridge 83 is inclined with respect ot the parallel planes of the body faces.

An electrical pick-up microphone unit 88 of conventional design is mounted on the inclined surface 79 of the stem 75 and is provided with the usual volume control and tone control knobs '89 and 90. An electrical cable (not shown) connects the pick-up unit 88 to a conventional amplifier and speaker (not shown).

Various types of bodies may be employed with the same stem 75 and associated parts. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 17, the stem 75, nut 80, bridge 83, anchor 84 and electrical pick-up 88 may be attached by any convenient means to a conventional Spanish type hollow soundbox 90. The usual opening 91 is provided in the upper face 92 of the sound-box and the surface 79 of the stem 75 is inclined with respect to this face 92. If desired, arcuate cutouts 93 and 94 may be provided in the sides of thestem 75 where it passes over the opening 91.

The modified form of the invention shown inFIGURES 18-21 also includes an integral stem 95 carrying the string anchor 96, bridge 97, nut 98, tuning head 99 and tensioned strings 100. A'tubular frame 101 forms the body and this is attached to the stem 95 by means of a special connection 102. This connection includes a metal plate 103 joining thet ubular parts ofthe frame 101 and having a pivot volt' 104. The bolt is threaded into the stem 95 and permits the stem to tilt to the phantom line positions shown in FIGURE 19. In this position, the common plane of the string-contacting parts of the bridge 97 and nut 98 is inclined with respect to the plane of the tubular frame or body 101. A sliding wedge 106 having a part traveling in a C shaped slot .107 in the plate 103 engages the plate 108 fixed to the under side of the stem 95 to hold it intilted position. A strap 109 connected to the frame is employed for supporting the weight of the entire device.

The connection 102 also permits swinging movement of the stem 95 in the plane of the frame 101, as shown by the phantom lines in FIGURE 18. This swinging movement permits the stem 95 to be raised or lowered with respect to the frame when the latter is in an upright position against the body of the musician.

Means are provided for maintaining the stem 95 in the desired angular position with respect to the frame 101 and as shown in the drawings, this means includes a flexible element 112 extending from one side of the tubular frame 101 to the other, and passing through an angular opening 113 provided in the stem 95. Friction between the flexible element 112 and the angular opening 113 maintains the stem 95 in the desired angular position in the plane of the frame 101. The cooperative action of the flexible element 112 and offset opening 113 also serves to limit the swinging movement of the stem 95 toward and away from the plane of the tubular frame 101. This movement permits the portion of the stem 95 within the outline of the frame 101 to conform to the body contours of the musician. The'under face of the stem 95 in the region of the bridge 97 rests on the body near the hip bone and'the resilient mounting of this surface with respect to the tubular frame 102 provides a comfortable support as compared to the usual large, substantially flat face on a conventional body or a conventional sound-box. This feature is shown in FIG- URE 21 where the relatively thick portion 122 of the stem 95 is displaced from the body 123 of the musician from the phantom line position while the tubular frame 101 remains in body-contacting position.

A plurality of electrical pick-up units 116 are provided on the upper face of the stem 95 below the tensioned strings 117. A control panel 118 having knobs 119 for volume control and tone control of the various electrical pick-up units 116 is provided on a side face 120 of the stem 95. t

The swinging movement is used to regulate the volume through one or more of the electrical pick-up units 116. A roller 150 is mounted within a cutout portion 122 of the stem 95 and frictionally contacts the flexible element 112. The roller 150 is carried on an arm 151 pivotally mounted at 152. An electrical volume control device 153 is also carried on the arm 151 and a tension spring 154 attached to the device acts to hold the roller 150 in contact with the flexible element 112. Electrical lead wires 155 extend from the electrical device 153 and are connected to the electrical control panel 118, to which the pick-up units 116 are also connected. From this description it will be understood that when the stem 95 is swung about the pivot 104 from the full line position shown in FIGURE 18 toward the phantom line position the roller 150 and electrical device 153 serve to increase the output delivered to the amplifier, not shown. Accord- 6 ingly, the volume is regulated by the musician by shifting the position of the stem while playing the instrument.

The stem 95 may also be adjusted lengthwise of the tubular frame 101. This is accomplished by installing the pivot bolt .104 in anyone of a series of locations 124 along the length of the plate 108 on the under side of the stem 95. In this way the elfective length of the projecting portion of the neck of the instrument may be varied to suit the preference of the musician. Children and beginning students of the guitar may use the short-neck adjustment since they commonly use only the first few fret positions near the nut, whereas professionals may use the device with the neck fully extended, for maximum use of the length of the fret board.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIG- URES 22-24, the stem 125 supports the nut 126, bridge 127, string member 128 and tuning head 129. Strings 130 are tensioned over the bridge 127 and nut 126. A special connection 131 is provided for connecting the stem 125. to the tubular frame 132 so that the stem 125 may be tilted to the inclined position shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 23. In this inclined position, the common plane containing the string-contacting parts of the bridge 127 and nut 126 is inclined with respect to the plane of the frame or body 132. This special connection 131- includes a hinge 133 and a strut 134 pivoted at 135 to the frame 132. The swinging end 136 of the strut may be inserted into any one of a series of holes 137 provided on the plate 138 mounted on the under side of the stem 125. The plate may be adjustably secured along the length of the stem 125 by means of the threaded fasteners 139 traveling in the slot 140. A bolt 141 fixed to the frame 132 and held in place by clamp nut 142 telescopes longitudinally into a recess 143 provided in the stern 125. A threaded bushing 144 is mounted within the stem 125 and receives the thread of the bolt 141. This bolt is aligned with the hinge 133 so that the stem 125 tilts about the bolt as well as the hinge. A nut 145 holds the stem i-n longitudinally adjusted position with respect to the tubular frame 132. A conventional electrical pick-up unit 146 is mounted under the tensioned strings on the upper surface of the stem 125.

From this description it will be understood that the stern 125 may be tilted about the hinge 133 and bolt 141 to the phantom line position shown in FIGURE 23. The stem 125 may also be shifted longitudinally with respect to the frame 132 by turning the bolt 141 and adjusting the clamp nuts 142 and 145 as well as adjusting the clamp fastenings 139 on the plate 138.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I .am not to be limited to the details herein set forth but that my invention is of the full scope of the appended/claims.

I claim:

1. In a guitar, the combination of: a body and a stem, the stem extending longitudinally from the body, the body having a surface defining a plane, the stem having an inclined nut thereon remote from the body, an inclined bridge on the stem, the nut and the bridge having stringcontacting surfaces contained in the same plane which is inclined with respect to the plane of the body, and a string anchor on the stern near the bridge.

2. In a musical instrument of the lute type, the combination of: a 'body and a stem, the stem extending longitudinally from the body, means connecting the stem and body, the body having a surface defining a plane, the stem having an inclined nut thereon remote from the body, an inclined bridge on said stem, the nut and the bridge having string-contacting surfaces contained in a common plane which is inclined with respect to the plane of the body.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which the stem is rigidly secured to the body and wherein the stem has an inclined surface parallel to said common plane.

4. The combination of claim 2 in which the stem is mounted to swing in the plane of the body.

5. The combination of claim 2 in which the stem is mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to the body.

6. The combination of claim 2 in which the stem has a tuning head thereon remote from the body and near the nut, pivot meansconnecting the stem to the body to permit the stem to tilt about a longitudinal axis, and means for maintaining the stem in tilted position.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 in which said pivotmeans also permits swinging of the stem about an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis.

7 8. The combination set forth in claim 6 in which said pivot means also permits longitudinal movement of the stem with respect to said body.

9. The combination set forth in claim 6 in which the body comprises a tubular frame.

10. In a guitar, the combination of: a body, a stem projecting from the body, an inclined bridge on the stem, an inclined nut on the stem remote from the bridge, a plurality of bass strings and a plurality of treble strings tensioned over said bridge and said nut, a string anchor on the stem, all of said strings being supported in the same inclined plane for simultaneous contact by a slide bar, so that when the guitar body is held in an upright position by a standing musician, the plane of the strings is inclined downward and away from the musician.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 10 in which the body comprises a frame defining a plane and being substantially open within its outer perimeter.

12. The combination set forth in claim 10 in which the body comprisesa tubular frame.

13. The combination set forth in claim 11 in which a portion of the stem is positioned within the perimeter of the frame, and means connecting the stem to the frame to permit swinging movement of the stern in the plane of the frame.

14. The combination set forth in claim 10 in which pivot means are provided connecting the stem to the body to permit the stem to swing relative to the body, an electrical pickup mounted on the stem adjacent the strings, and volume control means for varying the output of the electrical pickup in accordance with the angular position of the stem relative to the body.

15. The combination set forth in claim 10. in which the body and the stem are connected by telescoping parts to permit longitudinal adjustment of the stem relative to the frame.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 243,442 8/1928 Germany.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

E. C. SIMMONS, Assistant Examiner. 

